Electric signaling for trolley-railroads.



PATENTED APR. 10, 1906.

E. W. LEE. ELECTRIC SIGNALING FOR TROLLEYARAILROADS.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 31, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATE FFTD ELECTRIC SIGNALING FOR TROLLEY-"RAILROADS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 10, 1906 Application filed January 31, 1905. Serial No.24:3,6 84.

T0 or whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD WASHINGTON LEE, of South Atlanta, in thecounty of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Electric Signaling for Troll ey-Railroads of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effectivedanger-signal for trolleyrailroads.

My invention consists in the combination of two copper strips,respectively, with the oval-shaped sides of a stick of wood-fiberinsulation, said combination to be known hereinafter as the circuitmaker and breaker, the combination of said insulated strips or circuitmaker and breaker mechanically with. the under side of a Wide piece ofplank or block, the combination of the two ends of one of the insulatedcopper strips forming one side of the circuit maker and breaker with theregular trolley-wire, and the combination of the two respective sides ofthe circuit maker and breaker electrically with the electromagnets,armature, and incandescent lamps adjusted in a signal-box to behereinafter more fully described.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in both the views.

Figure 1 is a side view of my signal-box, showing a view of theconstruction and op eration of the same. Fig. 2 is a view of the contactdevice in position and the adjustment of the same to thetrolley-railroad.

In the lower section of the signal-box N an armature of soft iron 0 D isso adjusted that it will swing backward and forward on the pivot E andbetween two wooden strips g g, which form the path of the movablearmature O D by being fastened to two shelves it, said shelves 1' and ibeing fastened to the ends of the signal-box. To the outer edge of theshelf '2', is fastened a metallic strip a, which strip a acts as a stopfor the movable armature O D when it is drawn in that direction.Attached to the metallic strips a is a wire h which leads to and iselectrically connected with the electric lamps B R R, stationed in theupper section of the signal-box N. From these lamps R R R the wireconductor it leads to and is connected with the copper strip A, whichforms the live side of the circuit maker and breaker A B. To the base ofthe movable armature C D is fastened a wire H, which leads to the groundor return wire.

Underneath the shelves 0', and i" are fastened electromagnets F and F.These magnets are so adjusted that when the electric current is sentaround them each will draw the armature C D toward it. From the insulated side of the circuit maker and breaker B a wire (1 leads to, aroundthe magnet F, and thence to the ground or return wire.

Two copper strips A and B are fastened to the oval-shaped sides of astrip of wood-fiber insulation 7c. Said combination A it" B forms atrack so constructed that the trolleywheel M will roll on the same andimpinge the two sides A and B. This combination A 75 B or circuit makerand breaker is fastened to the under side of a short plank 7r 7c orblock of insulation, which acts as a watershed to shield the strips A Bfrom the shortcircuiting caused by water and ice.

The copper strip A is so adjusted to the regular trolley-wire that theelectric current from the trolley -wire will pass constantly through thesaid copper strip A. The copper strip B being insulated from the copperstrip A will contain no current unless an electrical connection is madebetween the strips A and B by the trolley-wheel M passing over the same.The circuit maker and breaker A B is so adjusted above thetrolley-railroad that the trolley-wheel will pass easily from theregular trolley-wire onto the said circuit maker and breaker and thenceoff onto the regular trolley-wire again.

A wire a leads from the insulated side of the circuit maker and breakerB around. the magnet F and to the ground or return wire. A wire 72/leads from the electrically-charged side of the circuit maker andbreaker A to the electric lamps R R R, and thence the said wire it isconnected with the metallic armature-rest a. The movable armature C D isconnected by Wire H with the ground or re turn wire.

The circuit maker and breaker A B may be adjusted. to the regulartrolley-wire at desired points on a double-tracked trolley-railroad oron a double-trolley track or wire, or it may be adjusted to the regulartrolleywire over the switch-track. The signal-box N may be used singlywith the circuit maker and breaker, or several of the same signalboXes Nmay be connected in series in order that the lights in each signal-boxmay be made or extinguished. at the same time. The

signals may be placed at any point along the track to be protected.

Just before the car carrying the trolleywheel M passes out of the switchor onto the track to be protected by the danger-signals thetrolley-wheel M rolls on the circuit maker and breaker, and therebyimpinges its two insulated sides A and B. The electric current from thecopper strip A passes through the trolley-wheel M into the oppositecopper strip B, and then the current passes from the copper strip B,through the wire a, around the electromagnet F and thence to the groundor return Wire. The current passing around the magnet F causes saidmagnet F to draw the movable soft-iron armature C D until it rests onthe metallic base a. WVhen the armature C D touches the metallic base a,a current will pass from the electricallycharged side of the circuitmaker and breaker A or from the regular trolley-wire through the wire h,thereby lighting the lamps R R R into the metallic base a through thearmature O D into the ground or return wire H.

The armature C D being inclined to an angle of about forty-five degreeswill remain in said position until the trolley-car passes over the trackto be protected by the signals. Then the trolley-wheel M will roll onand impinge the sides of a second circuit maker and breaker X, beingsimilar to the circuit maker and breaker A B, which is adjusted to theregular trolley-wire at the end of the track to be protected, eitherover the continuous double track or over the switch-track, onto whichthe same car passes. From the insulated section B of the second circuitmaker and breaker A B a wire P leads to and around the magnet stationedin the opposite end of the signal-box N. From this magnet F a wire Pleads to the ground.

When the trolley-wheel M passes on the circuit maker and breaker X atthe end of g the track to be protected, the circuit between V the twocopper strips Xis completed. Hence the current passes from the copperstrip X, through the wire P, around the magnet F and I thence to theground-wire P. The current passing around the magnet F will cause thesaid magnet to draw the armature C D from its resting-place on the metalbasis a to the opposite shelf 1', thereby breaking the circuit whichproduces the signal-lights.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. The combination of two short copper strips,mechanically, with the two ovalshaped sides of a strip of wood fiber orother good insulation, to form a circuit maker and breaker, with theunder side of a short plank or block of insulation which will act as awater-shed.

2. In a railway signal-box, the combination of a comparatively longarmature, T- shaped,- with the foot of said armature pivoted to the baseof the signal-box, thus allowing said armature to assume a forward andbackward motion when acted upon by certain energized magnets; which actsas a ground-conductor, with the outer edge of a shelf i, therebycompleting a circuit which will light the signal-lamps, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a railway signal-box, the combination of the pivoted armature C D,with a shelf, i, located in one end of a signal-box, operated by meansof the energized magnet, F, thereby breaking the circuit which lightsthe signal-lamps, substantially as described.

EDWARD WASHINGTON LEE.

i/Vitnesses:

C. H. TURNER, HARDY KEITH.

